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Saturday, November 04, 2017

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by the wonderful Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. As well as Stacking the Shelves hosted by the great Team Tynga's Reviews and Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.

I am afraid to tell you that the fall weather seems to finally be here to stay because then it might not and summer will be back. This weekend we will set the clocks back an hour, and so it seems only fitting fall would want to stay, right? Let's hope!

October In Review: October was a challenging month, and it is with mixed feelings that I bade it goodbye this week. Mouse was sick earlier in the month, and discovered the magic of going to the nurse's office. It meant a call went to mom or dad, and she would get picked up. We caught on quick to that, however, but then it was wanting to spend recesses in the nurse's office because it meant spending time with her friend who had a healing injury and couldn't play outside. She had all of us pretty worried, complaining of stomach pain every day. All of this on top of her grieving for our family cat, Parker. A talk with her teacher, the school's health tech, the doctor, plus putting two and two together, everything seems to have gotten back to normal. Thank goodness for open communication between school staff and I.

Work continues to be stressful. I will not bore you with details, but it's a cross between the bureaucracy and the work itself. I had to deal with a couple of very rough situations towards the end of the month. The kind that make me rush home and hug my daughter even tighter and longer than usual. Life is so fragile and children so vulnerable.

Halloween isn't a particular favorite holiday of mine, but for some reason I was very excited to see it come this year. Maybe because I needed something to look forward to. I took a vacation day Halloween Day, and was able to see my daughter in her school's costume parade. We passed out candy and went trick-or-treating that evening. I even dressed for the occasion!

Reading wise, it turned out to be a better month than I anticipated. My lack of interest in reading at the start of October fortunately gave way in the face of good books. I did not read very much with my daughter, unfortunately, my own illness making it hard to read out loud, and so my husband gladly stepped in. For myself, I read a number of good books, and polished off two novellas in the final days of the month just because I could.

Here is what I read last month:

Solely For Me:

The Fire By Night by Teresa Messineo

Miss Jane by Brad Watson

The Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander & J.K. Rowling (audio)

Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Bitten by Deceit by Shawntelle Madison

Forbidden by Elle Thorne

Read With My Daughter:

What Does It Mean To Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio, illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch

The Prince Says "I Love You!" (Sight Words Book 1) by Thea Feldman

Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey

How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids
by Tom Rath, Mary Reckmeyer, illustrated by Maurie J. Manning

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read by Curtis Manley and Kate Berube

October 2017 Favorite: It is hard to pick a favorite as I liked everything I read. There was Death in the Stacks, which was light and funny--perfect for my rather depressed mood. But then The Fire By Night was so raw and great. I think, though, I will have to go with The Last Christmas in Paris as my favorite for the month. This historical epistolary novel touched just the right spot with my romantic heart and love for history.

How did your October shape up reading wise? What was your favorite book you read in October?

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New to My Shelves: The NovemberMy Lit Box arrived this week. I am loving the boxes that include journals. Did you know I love journals? This month's box includes Erika L. Sánchez's I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, a book I have a feeling I will be able to relate to. Also, included is the Letting Go journal and a pen that either says "Over Achiever" or "Under Achiever" depending on which way you hold it.

Lust & Wonder by Augusten Burroughs is my Going Postal Book Group's selection for this round. It arrived in the mail just yesterday:

E-books purchased in October:

Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar

A Tangled Mercy by Joy Jordan-Lake

The Keeper of Secrets (Horowitz Chronicles #1) by Julie Thomas

Lady of Silver (Blood and Silver #1) by Shona Husk

Warrior of Fire (Blood and Silver #2) by Shona Husk

Running Out of Space: Sunblinded One by S.J. Higbee

Caraval (Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber

Books for Mouse:

What Does It Mean To Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio, illustrated by Stéphane JorischThelma the Unicorn by Aaron BlabeyHow Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids by Tom Rath, Mary Reckmeyer, illustrated by Maurie J. ManningSing Your Song! (Nella the Princess Knight) by Kristen L Depken, illustrated by Nneka Myers

My bookish magazines also arrived in the mail this past week!

What I Am Reading: I went back and forth what to read this week, but finally settled on Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva. I figure it is time to start on the many Christmas related books I have stacked up on my nightstand (or Kindle, depending).

What I Am Listening To: I am about halfway into Leigh Bardugo's Wonder Woman: Warbringer at the moment and quite enjoying it. I hadn't expected it to be a modern tale, and so that was a surprise.

What I Am Watching: The Walking Dead is back! It's gotten off to a more or less slow start compared to seasons past, although it has been action packed. It's good to see everyone again. I am also all caught up with sitcom The Good Place, which I have come to really enjoy. The Christmas Hallmark movies have started up again too--and why do I find myself watching them on the weekends when before I could never stand them? I rather like them though, as predictable as they are.

What Is Happening Off the Blog: Soccer practice was cancelled this week (too tired after Halloween, maybe?). Mouse's school had its annual Fall Festival, which my husband was able to attend with us this year. Mouse had a great time. My mom is visiting from out of town this weekend and finally is getting to see her granddaughter play in a soccer game. Mouse has one more after this before the season is over.

I am still in the process of updating my list and LibraryThing catalog of all the books I own. I have an official count on the books on my bookshelves downstairs (excluding the children's books). I am too embarrassed to tell you how many there are (it's a good mix of books I have read and those I haven't). The next part of the project will be to get all the books on shelves upstairs logged.

I received an e-mail on October 31st about a hostage situation at an elementary school in the town where I live. The school wasn't initially named, and so you can imagine the set off panic bells that set off. I was relieved when I realized it was not at my daughter's school, although no less concerned for those involved. Luckily, no children were hurt. A parent evidently had taken a teacher hostage, barricading themselves in a classroom. Hours later, a report came in that the police had fatally shot the disgruntled parent. The teacher is okay (minor injuries), thankfully--at least physically. A substitute teacher who had tried to stop the parent was treated for a broken nose. What a scare for everyone involved! It especially hits home because it involved a first grade teacher, which is the grade my daughter is in. Luckily, the kids were at lunch at the time, and so there were no students in the classroom at the time.

Tell me about what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? Do you have anything planned for this coming week?

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Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise).

In honor of this being Sci-Fi Month, November Nonfiction, and with the Annual HoHoHo Holiday/Winter Readathon taking place mid-month, I decided to center this month's choices on those three events (even though I am not participating). I enlisted the help of my husband in narrowing down my choices because so many sounded tempting. I look forward to seeing which book I will be reading this month!

Rule of Luck by Catherine Cerveny

A thrilling new science fiction series -- perfect for fans of character-driven SF adventure. Linnea Sinclair, author of the Dock Five Universe novels calls it "an edge-of-your-seat ride."

Year 2950. Humanity has survived devastating climate shifts and four world wars, coming out stronger and smarter than ever. Incredible technology is available to all, and enhancements to appearance, intelligence, and physical ability are commonplace.

In this future, Felicia Sevigny has built her fame reading the futures of others.

Alexei Petriv, the most dangerous man in the TriSystem, will trust only Felicia to read his cards. But the future she sees is darker than either of them could ever have imagined. A future that pits them against an all-knowing government, almost superhuman criminals, and something from Felicia's past that she could never have predicted, but that could be the key to saving -- or destroying -- them all. [Goodreads Summary]

Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks by Annie Spence

A Gen-X librarian's laugh-out-loud funny, deeply moving collection of love letters and break-up notes to the books in her life.

Librarians spend their lives weeding. Not weeds, but books! Books that have reached the end of their shelf life, both literally and figuratively. They remove the ones that patrons no longer check out, and they put back the ones they treasure. Annie Spence, who has a decade of experience as a Midwestern librarian, does this not only at her Michigan library but also at home, for her neighbors, at cocktail parties—everywhere. In Dear Fahrenheit 451, she addresses those books directly. We read her love letters to Just Kids and Frog and Toad Storybook Treasury, as well as her break-ups with The Giving Tree and Dear John. Her notes to The Goldfinch and The Time Traveler’s Wife feel like classics. Through the lens of the books in her life, Annie comments on everything from women’s psychology to gay culture to health to poverty to childhood aspirations. Hilarious, compassionate, and wise, Dear Fahrenheit 451 is the consummate book-lover's book. [Goodreads Summary]

Snowfall on Haven Point by RaeAnne Thayne

There's no place like Haven Point for the holidays, where the snow conspires to bring two wary hearts together for a Christmas to remember.

It's been two rough years since Andrea Montgomery lost her husband, and all she wants is for her children to enjoy their first Christmas in Haven Point. But then Andie's friend asks a favor—to keep an eye on her brother, Sheriff Marshall Bailey, who's recovering from a hit and run. Andie will do anything for Wyn, even park her own misgivings to check on her grouchy, wounded bear of a brother.

Marshall hates feeling defenseless and resents the protective impulses that Andie brings out in him. But when a blizzard forces them together for the holidays, something in Marshall begins to thaw. Andie's gentle nature is a salve, and her kids' excitement for the holidays makes him forget why he never wanted a family. If only he and Andie can admit what they really want—each other—their Christmas wishes might come true after all. [Goodreads Summary]

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Have you read any of these? Which one do you think I should read this month?

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful November and Happy Reading!

64 comments:

Sorry to hear about your tough October. I hope that November is a better month for you.

Though you did not read as much as you liked.You read some ompressive books.

I see that you picked up Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass. I have been somewhat fascinated by The Dyatlov Pass incident. I hope that you review the book, I look forward to your thoughts on it.

I feel the same about the bureaucracy of my job and the politics within my school and to all the higher up levels all the way to state and federal. I'm glad you took a day for yourself. Sounds like Mouse became a "frequent flier" to the nurse. I'm glad that situation has resolved. That situation at the elementary school sounds terrifying. I can't imagine what that teacher endured. I wonder if the district will be providing mental health services at no cost to this teacher for such an event to occur under their own roof to an employee. I have had a parent come across a table at me - in a full conference room - and that is as far as anything has ever gone, but I don't doubt that the possibility is there. It is very concerning and one of the reasons I want to leave the education field. I hope you have a great November!

Charlie - Thank you, Charlie. It feels sometimes (most of the time?) like there is a big disconnect between the upper management and those of us on the lower rungs. They make decisions without fully thinking them out--and then are surprised at the fallout.

It was quite funny, in retrospect, Mouse's visits to the nurse's office. I am glad it's been resolved though. :-)

The district did end up providing mental health services to the students and school staff--and the parents as well. The week the students went back, they had 32 counselors on campus to help. Hopefully they will still be available--or some of them--for long after if needed. I can't even imagine what they all must have been going through. I mean, if I was as distraught as I was not even being directly involved . . . I am so sorry you had to deal with a hostile and aggressive parent. Our campuses in the district are closed campuses as of the beginning of the school year because of a teacher and student killed in a neighboring city last year by the teacher's estranged husband. Parents are not allowed on campus before, during or after school without a pass. Obviously, that rule only works when people obey the rules. It's not like staff are equipped to physically restrain and prevent angry parents onto campus if they push their way through. Hopefully incidents like that are few and far in between. But even one is too many.

I voted for Snowfall on Haven Point. It sounds like you had quite the October. I hope your November is a bit better for you. I remember when my oldest was your daughter's age and fell in love with the nurse's office. I know my kid and knew she just liked the attention but the nurse acted like I was the worst parent in the world for not making a bit deal of every headache. She wasn't really having headaches - she was bored in class and knew she could leave if she said she had a headache. It's just a funny story now. Enjoy all of your new books and have a great November.

Carole - Thank you for voting! I think Snowfall on Haven Point will be perfect for right now. I had a moment like that with the school health tech--the first time I told her to send my daughter back to class. She didn't have a fever and I knew she wasn't really sick. The next day, the health tech didn't call, but then the following Monday, she did--and she basically told me that I needed to take her to a doctor because it wasn't normal for her to be complaining every day. I had told her about Parker's death and that she had been fine with me all weekend . . . But, I went ahead and picked Mouse up and called the doctor, even knowing what the doctor would say. The doctor was understanding, fortunately. Luckily, I was able to have a heart to heart with the health tech and the teacher after that (with the weight of the doctor's backing to help) and we all finally got on the same page. Thank you for sharing your story. It's good to know I am not alone. :-)

Ellen - It was frightening. I am glad it turned out well with no innocent people injured. Thank you for the book recommendation! I will definitely check out The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. I think we all would benefit from it.

Sounds like you had a tough October. Sorry to hear that. I hope this month will be much better. ;)I voted for 'Snowfall on Have Point'. I just sounded like a great read and I love that cover. It sounds like you still had a good reading month in the end. ;)Have a great week and happy reading!

Emma - Thank you for your kind thoughts! It probably was. I know it made the national news from what a friend in Pennsylvania had told me. It turned out well overall, although it is sad the parent didn't survive. I really feel for his daughter. Thanks for stopping by!

Sorry October was a challenging month. Looked like a good reading month though. I voted for the RaeAnne Thayne book because I have liked all the books I read from her. Enjoy your new books and have a great week!

I voted for The Rule of Luck - it looks great. Sorry that Mouse has been having a rough time. For what it's worth, I can fully understand that she would rather spend time indoors than running around the playground - glad to hear the school have been intelligent and alert to her problems and I hope that November is a better month.

It looks like you had a really great reading month in October! I managed to come down with a cold this past week and felt like I was behind in everything. I've spent this weekend catching up though which is nice. The hostage situation sounds absolutely terrifying. I don't even want to imagine - how horrible. I'm so glad that it wasn't at your school though and that everything ended "okay". I hope that November is a wonderful month for you Wendy!

I hope things improve at work and that you have a great November. So sorry to hear about your cat :(

I will have to add Last Christmas in Paris to my TBR list. Sounds perfect for this time of year. I love historical fiction. I have Wonder Woman: Warbringer checked out from the library and hope to get to it soon. I loved the movie and I've heard good things about the book.

Christina - Thank you. Things have worked out somewhat at work at least in one area, but not without its share of headaches. And thank you for your support about the loss of my cat. He was very special to our family and is sorely missed.

I had hoped to have Warbringer finished by now, but my audiobook listening has been nonexistent recently. :-( Hopefully I can get it finished this month. I am enjoying it though! Hopefully you will like to too!

Sounds like you and your daughter had a fun Halloween. I am not sold on The Walking Dead this season. I don't know how many episodes I can take of battle after battle. I read Death in the Stacks too and really loved it but that series is always a fun read!

Barb - It was a good Halloween. I'm an episode behind (soon to be two) in The Walking Dead. Hopefully we will get some more character oriented episodes soon and less big battle preparation. I need to read more by McKinlay. Death in the Stacks was my first by her. Thanks for stopping by!

October does sound like it was stressful so glad we are into a new month and hopefully it'll be much better. At least you were able to enjoy Halloween and close out the month with some fun! And, good for you for still getting lots of book reads in October!

I'm sorry to hear you had a stressful month and the especially to have it end on such a potentially terrifying note with that hostage situation. I think I would have lost my mind with worry if I had gotten that email without the name of the school on it. What is this world coming to that a parent would come into a school and try to hold a teacher hostage...

I had to vote for the RaeAnne Thayne because she does the best Christmas books and I can never resist her though Dear Farenheit 451 is on my TBR. That's scary about the school and so glad that there were no children involved and that it wasn't Mouse's school. I LOVED Last Christmas in Paris. I think I've decided I'm just an enormous fan of anything Hazel Gaynor does.

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At the age of five, Literary Feline (aka Wendy) was diagnosed as a fabulavore. Due to the low story content of movies and television, she has required a steady supply of books to provide her sustenance. She currently resides in California with her loving husband, adorable daughter, and two affectionate and sassy cats. Literary Feline has broadened her nutritional sources by reviewing books. Please note: Literary Feline is not a bibliovore. She's not eating the books for goodness' sake.